United Athletes helping footballers prepare for life beyond the pitch through OFF PLAY

• United Athletes has partnered with Belgian platform OFF PLAY to help active and former players prepare for life during and after football
• Members can access education, career guidance, coaching and skills development through a single platform
• Former Belgian professional Nils Schouterden rebuilt his life in Spain after retiring with the support of OFF PLAY

For more than 18 years, Nils Schouterden’s life revolved around football. The former Belgian midfielder made over 500 professional appearances for clubs including Oud-Heverlee Leuven, Sint-Truiden, Eupen, Westerlo, KV Mechelen, AEK Larnaca and RFC Seraing before bringing his playing career to a close in 2025. 

Today, instead of preparing for matches, he spends his days helping Belgian families find new homes in Spain.

“During my football career, I spent many years as team captain, and that taught me how to think collectively and fight for the team,” said Schouterden. “I want to bring that same mindset into this new chapter and build something meaningful here.”

His transition from professional football to real estate was made possible with the support of OFF PLAY, a platform that United Athletes gives its members access to as part of the Belgian player union’s commitment to supporting footballers throughout every stage of their careers.

Through OFF PLAY, active and former players can access education, career guidance, coaching, skills development and a network of employers designed to help them prepare for life alongside and after football. 

The initiative is backed by Belgium’s three largest trade unions, the Belgian Pro League and United Athletes, strengthening the support available to players both during and after their playing careers.

Planning for life after football

Like many players, Schouterden did not wait until retirement to begin thinking about what would come next.

“I started thinking seriously about life after football around the age of 32,” he said. “My range of interests has always been very broad, which made it difficult to focus on one clear direction. I had plenty of ideas, but I never felt confident enough to take the leap.”

After reconnecting with former team-mate Maxim Biset, Schouterden learned about OFF PLAY and quickly realised it could provide the guidance he had been searching for.

“We had a long and meaningful conversation about my future and my wide range of interests. From that moment on, I knew they were the right people to guide me and help bring structure to my thinking.”

Those conversations eventually led to introductions with Spanish real estate company NB ESTATES. Shortly after retiring, Schouterden and his family relocated to Spain, where both he and his wife now work for the company.

The former midfielder has since progressed from Area Manager to Area Director, combining the leadership qualities he developed as a football captain with a completely new profession.

How OFF PLAY is solving tomorrow’s problem today

The idea behind OFF PLAY began with a chance conversation. Founder Peter Kok, who comes from a software background rather than professional sport, met a former footballer who admitted he was struggling to find direction after retirement.

“It really stayed with me,” Kok said. “I realised we were solving problems only once players had already reached the end of their careers. We wanted to go back to the beginning and help athletes build something alongside football, so the transition wouldn’t feel like starting from zero.”

Today, OFF PLAY brings together education providers, career coaches, mental performance specialists, employers and mentors within one digital community, making it easier for players to find trusted support without having to navigate countless separate services.

Rather than replacing existing organisations, Kok says the platform aims to connect them. “We don't want to compete with everyone else,” he said. “We want to bring everything together in one place, so athletes always know where to go when they need support.”

A shared responsibility

For Kok, the partnership with United Athletes has been fundamental to making that vision a reality. The Belgian player union helped introduce OFF PLAY to professional footballers with the aim of preparing players for life beyond the game.

“United Athletes really embraced what we’re trying to do because they see the gap players face,” Kok said. “They’ve opened doors for us within football and understand, through their own experience, the challenges athletes can face during and after their careers.”

Kok also believes football has a collective responsibility to prepare players for whatever comes next.

“If you invite a young player into professional football to chase their dream, you should also help them build a future if that dream doesn’t unfold exactly as planned,” he said.

“Helping players develop outside football doesn’t just benefit them afterwards. It can also make them better athletes while they’re still playing because they have greater confidence, more knowledge and less uncertainty about the future.”

Looking beyond football

Although Schouterden’s transition happened quickly, he believes every player should begin preparing long before retirement arrives.

“The first thing I would tell young players is to complete their education,” he said. “Football is a beautiful sport, but it’s also unpredictable. You can build a wonderful career, but everything can change in a single moment.

“Work as hard as you can, enjoy every minute of your career, but don’t neglect your future. Take the opportunity to learn from people who have been through the journey themselves and can help you prepare for what’s next.”

Sebastien Stassin, who is the main responsible for professional footballers at United Athletes and a former player in Belgium, said: “Given the current economic climate, the rising cost of living and the rising retirement age, we believe that fewer players will be able to stop working in the years to come. That is why players, both young and old, need to realise that their future starts today.”